PM’s aide Dr Ishrat Hussain calls it a day

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain has requested Prime Minister Imran khan to relieve him from official responsibilities with effect from September 1, 2021.
While replying to the media’ queries regarding his resignation, Dr Ishrat said that he has submitted his resignation as adviser to the prime minister and requested him to relieve me of my responsibilities with effect from September 1, 2021.
“I had joined the government with the understanding that I would serve for three years and would seek retirement once I attain the age of 80,” he said.
“Having reached that age and completed three years, I have requested the PM to relieve me of my official responsibilities with effect from September 1, 2021,” he added.
“You must realize that I have rendered 57 years of continuous public service including 15 in Civil Service, 21 in the World Bank, 6 in the State Bank, 2 as Chairman, NCGR, 8 in the IBA and 3 in the present government,” he further said.
Dr Ishrat stated that the “PM has been extremely kind to me, has reposed his trust and shown respect in his dealings with me”. “I took up this assignment because I believe in his mission and vision i.e improving the governance structure of this country with the aim of bringing about an efficient and equitable economy free from the clutches of elite capture and helping the poor get out of poverty trap,” he said.
“During the last three years, I was able to design and obtain the approval of the Cabinet on the following set of reforms such as Reorganize the Federal Government and ease the burden on the exchequer by reducing the number of organizational entities from 441 to 307, Restructure and Reform top 10 loss-making State-Owned Enterprises such as PIA, Railways, Pakistan Steel Mills and key Institutions of governance such as FBR, Auditor General, SECP, Public Finance Management Law under which the powers of the Ministry of finance have been delegated to the line ministries and introduction of E-Office suite in the Federal Ministries to improve efficiency and transparency and Civil Service Reforms such as Performance Agreements between the Prime Minister and the Ministers and a new Performance Management System,” he added.
“The others included Systematic Training of Ex-Cadre Officers, Induction of Technical Expertise in the Federal Ministries, Specialized Streams within the Secretariat, reducing the hierarchical tiers, new promotion policy, Directory Retirement Rules, An open transparent selection process for appointment of CEOs/MDs of Public Sector Organizations based purely on merit and 62 such appointments have been made under this process and several Overseas Pakistanis have been selected,” he further said.
Moreover, Dr Ishrat said that a Cabinet Committee on Institutional Reforms (CCIR) has been established to review and monitor the implementation of these reforms
“It is time for me to call it a day and to lead a less stressful life, and spend more time with my grandchildren and pursue my other interests. However, I am available in my non-official capacity to be of assistance in economic, Social, Cultural, Social Welfare Activities in the Public-Private Academia/Research and philanthropic sectors,” he said.
“I am writing this note to avoid any speculation or misinformation in this matter,” he concluded.